Homebirth is something that I am passionate about.

Finding a supportive birth team is key to a good birth.

You do not want to have to be fighting for your birth during the whole pregnancy and labor.

After a traumatic hospital birth with our first (which was supposed to be a homebirth, but that is another story), our next birth, at home, was a very healing experience for me.

Birth is not a sickness to be managed. Yes, there are times when special attention is needed, but often hospital interventions lead to issues during labor, not a woman’s body failing her.

Homebirth Midwife vs Hospital Midwife

We homebirth, so these questions are geared towards finding a homebirth midwife.

Unfortunately midwife assisted homebirth is illegal in some states, so do make sure that you check your state laws before getting too far down that road. Doctors and hospitals often lobby against it.

It should be noted that there is typically a huge difference between a homebirth midwife and a midwife that works out of a medical practice.

Homebirth midwives are typically more natural minded, whereas ones in a medical practice have to abide by that practices guidelines and hospital guidelines.

Also, if you see a midwife in a medical practice, it is likely that you will have to see all of the doctors there as well since you cannot have a guarantee of who will actually be attending your birth.

Do Your Research

{This post contains affiliate links. This means that the price that you pay does not change, but I get a small commission when you purchase items through my links}

I suggest finding a local homebirth/natural birth group (Facebook is a great resource in this area). Often they can give you recommendations on doctors, nurses, and hospitals in the area that are natural birth friendly.

As with the pediatrician questions, do your research before visiting so that you know your stance on these topics. I highly recommend Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, Husband Coached Childbirth, and Ina May Gaskin’s Guide To Childbirth are great resources, as is the Evidence Based Birth site.

Do your own research on the questions so that you can find where you stand on the topics, and find a provider that will support your choices.

General Questions

• What is your birth philosophy?
• What role do you play during labor?
• How long have you been practicing midwifery?
• Where did you train?
• What is your transfer rate?
• What is the most common reason for transfer? Under what conditions would you initiate a transfer?
• Do you have experience with the Bradley Method?
• Do you have experience with the Brewer diet?
• Do you have a birth tub for clients to use?
• How much do you charge and when is it due in full? Do you offer payment plans?
• Do you have experience delivering breech/twins vaginally?
• Do you have clients that have had success being reimbursed by ______(insurance company)?
• How do you feel about chiropractic care during pregnancy?
• In case of a transfer, do you accompany clients? How long do you normally stay?
• How do you feel about nursing during pregnancy?
• Do you use herbs/essential oils in your practice (Please, take a minute to check out the essential oil safety page. There are oils that are not safe while pregnant, nursing or around infants despite some MLM companies claims.)
• How do you feel about birth plans?

Prenatal Care

• How do you handle blood sugar testing? Do you accept a meal alternative?
• Do you continue to see clients with gestational diabetes?
• Is how do you handle GBS testing? What happens if I am GBS positive?
• Are you okay with using only the fetoscope to listen to baby?
• Are you okay with me declining cervical checks? Even during labor?
• Are you okay with me declining ultrasounds?
• Are you okay with me declining most standard testing?
• If baby is breech, what do you suggest to try to encourage them to turn?
• How “late” can baby be and still be under your care?
• What testing do you recommend for post date (after 41 weeks) babies?
• Are you okay with me taking my blood pressure at home before an appointment and sending you a picture of the reading? (this is huge for someone with white coat syndrome!)
• If I am approaching 42 weeks, what do you suggest for getting labor started?

Labor/Postpartum

• Are you trained in neonatal resuscitation?
• Do you do PKU testing?
• How do you feel about dad catching?
• How do you feel about some or all of the kids being present (with someone specifically there to take them out if need be)?
• What do you do if labor stalls or goes for an extended period?
• How long do you allow for laboring after water has broken?
• Do you do placenta encapsulation?
• Are you okay with waiting for the placenta to be delivered before cutting the cord?
• Do you have experience with postpartum hemorrhaging? Shoulder dystocia? Cord prolapse?
• Do you know much about oral ties?
• What do you recommend for after birth pains?
• Do you ever pull on cord to deliver the placenta?
• Do you suture?

What are some of your questions for interviewing potential midwives?